Do You have to be gifted a tarot deck?

As a Tarot reader, people often ask me, “Don’t you have to be gifted a Tarot deck?” And I always say, while it’s great to be gifted a Tarot deck, you most certainly can give yourself a Tarot deck! Especially as women, I don’t think it’s a good idea to wait for another person to give us something that we want. The important thing is to connect and resonate with the deck that you use.

There is simply every reason to choose your own deck. A good way to look at it is that the universe wants to get the right cards into your hands, and sometimes that means you buy them for yourself. Don’t wait to start using Tarot because you are waiting for a gift!

So the short answer is: No, you don’t have to be gifted a Tarot deck. Not by any means.

I Bought My First Tarot Deck Myself

My first Tarot deck called out to me from the shelf of a little herb shop in Cape Cod. I loved the images, and the accompanying book’s interpretations were resonant with my values of active participation in a reading, as opposed to passive acceptance of a reading. I bought it for myself and have used and loved it for years.

Since then, I’ve inherited a deck which I love but don’t use much, and have been gifted three other decks, two of them I enjoy and use and one which did not resonate, even though it was vintage and very interesting visually. The rest of the decks I have, (not many) I have bought for myself. But the first one I bought remained the one I did most of my readings with, until I created my own.

Here are some tips on what to look for when choosing a Tarot deck for yourself (or someone else, you can still gift one too!)

Choosing a Tarot Deck

1. Cards. Make sure it’s a deck you love to look at. The images should call out to you and resonate. If you like anime, maybe you want an anime deck, if you like watercolors, go there. There are also a lot of themed decks out there. But mostly, it’s the style of the art itself that you want to enjoy.
2. Guidebook. If you can, take a look at the guidebook that comes with it. (It does have a guidebook, right?!) Do you feel like the book is speaking directly to you? Or do you get a bad vibe or feel bored reading the book? In this case rethink it, because you want to be able to use the deck and feel like you are working together. The guidebook should provide some information on what the cards mean so you can give yourself or someone else a reading right out of the gate.
3. Cardstock and Container. This is not as important as the images and book but over time it can make a difference. Everyone has different preferences. I like substantial but not too substantial cards. You want to be able to shuffle them so not too thick of a stock. For size, not too large since they need to fit into your hands. I like a matte finish. As far as container, there are many options. My favorite, and the one I used for the SparkTarot® deck is a sturdy two piece box. I’m not so excited about the tuck-boxes with the little opening flap at one end, the cards never seem to go back in right. You can always take them out of the tuck-box though, and wrap them in a cloth.

Find your Perfect Deck

There are so many beautiful decks out there. Many people like to collect them and even use them together. Find ones you like and go ahead and procure them yourself! 

Enjoy any gifts you receive, of course. But don’t wait for them. Take charge of your own happiness. You are much more likely to use a Tarot deck if you have one you really love.

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